2010
Overview
Morocco was WHO-certified malaria-free in 2010 with the last indigenous case being reported in 2004. Malaria prevention and control efforts began in 1919, when the first malaria control unit was established. This unit helped to implement prophylactic measures for malaria and centralize malaria-related issues serving as a liaison to regional and chief medical officers. During the 1940s, however, the malaria control unit teams decentralized and were divided into different administrative regions becoming the regional services for hygiene and epidemiology (SRHE). Despite the decentralization, the role of malaria control units continued as they focused on surveillance, prophylaxis, and other interventions. Morocco gained independence in 1955 and throughout the 1950s to the 1970s, the incidence of malaria declined substantially from nearly 100,000 reported cases in 1956 to approximately 6500 cases in 1972. This was attributable to vector control through indoor residual spraying with DDT, management of irrigated areas, larval control, and strengthened case detection and treatment. Malaria control interventions continued from the 1970s to the early 2000s with Morocco notably setting up BORE that helped to maintain communications with local malaria teams and the central malaria teams. In 1999, the Morocco Ministry of Health also joined the “Roll Back Malaria” initiative and adopted a plan to eliminate malaria through intensified control and surveillance in high-risk areas, improved case detection and intervention, and more efficient field operations. Overall, Morocco’s sustained efforts of combined malaria control interventions and improved healthcare coverage, and economic development allowed the country to achieve malaria elimination.
Malaria Incidence in Morocco (2000-2020)
| Year | Incidence of malaria (per 1,000 population at risk) |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.000104 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0.000645 |
| 2003 | 0.000134 |
| 2004 | 0.000033 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
References
Trari, B., & Carnevale, P. (2011). De la préélimination à l’élimination du paludisme au Maroc. Quels risques pour l’avenir ? [Malaria in Morocco: from pre-elimination to elimination, what risks for the future?]. Bulletin de la Societe de pathologie exotique (1990), 104(4), 291–295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13149-011-0156-2
World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean & Morocco. Ministry of Health. (2007). Malaria in Morocco: relentless efforts towards the goal of elimination. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/116532